Today would have been my mom's 76th birthday. DANG, she would have been OLD... it's hard to picture. I used to tease her about being an old woman when she was only50. Happy birthday Mom, I miss you.

It's definitely "fall" here... overnight lows are in the mid 30s (brrr!), and driving to work I was driving through flurries of leaves that were carried in the wind made by passing cars -- it was kind of interesting/neat to look at. And of course over the weekend we all mucked with our clocks again -- what a stupid system!

With things like this happening, can the End be far behind? It reminds me of the Ghostbusters quote:

Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath-of-God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria.

Congratulations to "Jane" on her engagement!!!

United Way Conundrum

My company is in the midst of the annual United Way campaign, and I'm faced with a conundrum. The Intel Foundation matches gifts given through the campaign, but the match doesn't go to the agency you choose, but to UW's Community Fund.

I'm concerned that organizations that I can't support (like Planned Parenthood, for example) may receive funding through the Community Fund, and that therefore if I participate I may be indirectly aiding an organization that is diametrically opposed to my beliefs. If that's the case I'd be better off just giving as I do now and skipping UW altogether.

I'm going to do some digging to see what's in the UW Community Fund.

I'm still getting over the crud I've had. I had a call from the choir director at church last night asking me if I could cantor this morning since the usual cantor's daughter broke her leg. So I said yes, of course. I've been singing with this group for 3 weeks and I'm cantoring already!

Unfortunately my voice was not at its best since I've been so sick. I did okay, though. The amusing point for the morning is that I was busily singing the opening song, and as Fr. Pat processed past me, he reached over and turned my microphone on! I hadn't realized it was off and needed to be turned on. If I had not been otherwise occupied I would have laughed and laughed.

Sick Day. *bleah* I've been feeling a bit run-down this last couple of days; it looks like the bug running around work finally caught up with me. With all the stress from the re-structuring and uncertainty I guess it's not surprising a lot of people have been sick. So it's a day to stay home and have some chicken soup, I guess.

Happy Founder's Day

to all my brothers in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. May the values we hold dear always light your path and guide your steps, and may you always find in music your lasting joy.

I was watching "Lost" last night (what a great season opener! Although the show seems to be going in a pretty trippy direction) and in the opening scene one of the characters is listening to Petula Clark's "Downtown". It reminded me I'd always wanted to get this song, so I just bought it on iTunes and i'm listening to it now. It makes me happy, and nostalgic, and reminds me of my early childhood. Yay!

I'm officially old. I had an ophthalmologist appointment today, and he confirmed that I need bifocals. *sigh*